August 2 news

Published by jwettschreck on Friday, August 2nd, 2013

WORTHINGTON – Our weekly construction update from the City of Worthington Engineering Department states work is continuing on 10th Street from First Avenue to East 9th Avenue for the ADA curb and ramp work, and water main reconstruction continues on Park Avenue from West Oxford Street to West Clary Street. On First Avenue SW, bituminous overlay from west of Knollwood Drive to near Pleasant Avenue is scheduled to begin Monday.

Also beginning Monday, a portion of U.S 59 north of Interstate 90 will close while work is done between Bioscience Drive and 27th Street to replace the existing pavement and culvert with a four-lane section with turn lanes and a new culvert. During construction, southbound US 59 traffic will be detoured west at Nobles County 14, 7 and 25 into Worthington. Due to the ongoing construction of Minnesota 60, northbound traffic will take Nobles County 10 to Oxford Street, then Nobles County 25, 7, and 14 before reconnecting with U.S. 59.

The project is scheduled to take 60 days and weather permitting, is expected to be complete in October.

WORTHINGTON – The Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra was recently awarded a $5,000 grant for its fall 2013 concert through the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council, or SMAHC. More than $183,000 in grants was distributed to 46 area artists, schools and organizations, made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund, by the McKnight Foundation, and by contributions from individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, cities and counties.

Contact the SMAHC office at (507) 537-1471 or toll free at 1-800-622-5284 for information on grant guidelines or applications, or email at smahc@starpoint.net

LUVERNE — Gevo Inc., the world’s only commercial producer of bio-based isobutanol, announced Thursday that it has brought its second million-liter fermenter and GIFT system — Gevo’s proprietary integrated fermentation technology platform — online at its Luverne facility.

The plan is to bring the final fermenters and GIFT system online at Luverne later this year, testing run rates, then ramping up production and sales over the balance of 2013 and in 2014, according to Patrick Gruber, Gevo’s chief executive officer. Gevo will sell the isobutanol it produces in the specialty chemicals and specialty oxygenated fuel blendstock markets.For more information, visit www.gevo.com.

LAKE PARK, Iowa — Ground will be broken this Saturday on a new attraction in Lake Park, Iowa that will honor Dickinson county veterans. The event will be held at 8 a.m. at the site of where the freedom rock and veteran’s memorial will be located just east of the Lake Park Community Building near the Harris-Lake Park Middle School and High School.

The freedom rock will feature a mural that will be painted during the first week of September by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorenson, who has the goal of placing a freedom rock in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

The first phase of the veteran’s memorial part of the project will involve the installation of some pavers at its base, which will be surrounded by some large rocks and flags and flag poles.

The public is invited to attend Saturday’s event.

WILLMAR - Police have arrested a third teenager in the killing of a 79-year-old woman found dead in her Willmar home earlier this week. Lila Warwick, formerly of Jackson, was found dead in her home Monday after authorities went to check on her. Preliminary autopsy results show Warwick had multiple stab wounds and neck injuries that were consistent with strangling.

Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog says a 17-year-old boy from Willmar was arrested early Thursday afternoon. A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of murder and burglary in the slaying of Lila Warwick. Both are from Willmar and remained in custody Thursday pending formal charges.

Investigators do not believe the killing was random.

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering emergency haying for livestock producers because of a hay shortage. State wildlife managers have identified 922 acres on 43 wildlife management areas where emergency haying would benefit wildlife.

The state conservation lands are located in 22 Minnesota counties. Sites were identified where haying could be allowed and would help manage habitat conservation. Only Minnesota farmers who need forage for their own livestock are eligible to cut hay in those areas.

Counties with potential sites include Blue Earth, Cottonwood and Jackson. Farmers have until Aug. 9 to contact area wildlife managers about emergency haying opportunities.

SANBORN, Iowa — A Minnesota man was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital after an industrial accident in Sanborn on Wednesday.

According to Marty Neid of Neid Equipment in Milford, their company was working on a new grain bin at Hartog Elevator when his 22-year-old employee and grandson Jacob Neid of Sleepy Eye fell off a five-foot scaffolding. A metal door frame followed him down and fell on his face and head, fracturing his skull and jaw. Jacob Neid was transported via helicopter to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Marty Neid says his grandson did have a breathing tube in, but is not on life support at this time, and is doing better. He says however, it could be a long road to recovery.